1. In 1776, the Battle of Ridgefield took place during the American Revolutionary War. British soldiers under General William Tryon were forced to retreat against an outnumbered continental army led by Major General David Wooster and Brigadier General Benedict Arnold.
2. In 1887, the state of Connecticut adopted its state flower, the mountain laurel. This flowering shrub is native to the state and blooms in May and June.
3. In 1975, the mayor of Bridgeport, Nicholas Panuzio, was indicted on charges of bribery and conspiracy. He was the first mayor in the state of Connecticut to be accused of corruption while in office.
4. In 1998, the University of Connecticut men's basketball team opened their new arena, the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, with a game against Indiana. The Huskies won 77-74 in front of a sellout crowd.
5. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall along the Connecticut coast, causing widespread power outages and flooding. The storm caused millions of dollars in damage and resulted in several deaths in the state.